By Erica Scalise
The basement of Queen’s Court opened its doors to a newly renovated convenience store and upgraded deli this past week.
The transformation to a Provisions in Demand (POD) location occurred over the course of winter break and has seen success since its opening on the 15th, according to Deming Yaun, university dining contract liaison.
“In less than the first 24 hours open on Monday and Tuesday, between three and four p.m., the vast majority of shelves were empty,” said Yaun.
Student requests for a convenience store had been vocalized fairly regularly in the past, according to Yaun.
“Changes in the Auntie Anne’s establishment had us look at the whole place and made us think about what we could do to improve it,” he said.
These changes include the implementation of shelves containing canned goods, toiletries, specialty food items, fresh produce and an increase in frozen food items.
The establishment welcomes new health food products such as Halo-Top, Calbee Snapea Crisps, Amy’s organic frozen foods and Dang coconut chips, all of which can be purchased using declining balance.
A Crust Above deli has also undergone changes.
“We’ve changed to Boar’s Head sandwich products which are gluten free and viewed as higher quality. This was done at a station at Lincoln Center in the Fall of 2017 and worked out well,” said Yaun.
As students respond well to these changes, Yaun said the increase from two to three deliveries of food per week is currently necessary due to the products’ high demand.
Sereene Kurzum, FCRH ’20, is satisfied with the changes.
“When I first walked into the new and improved Queen’s Court, or rather the POD, I was shocked to say the least. With a fresh new layer of green paint and a pleasant, but not overpowering odor, I knew I would be coming here much more often,” said Kurzum.
Kurzum favors the newly accessible nature of these items.
“From canned tuna to home goods to fresh avocados, the POD has all of the goods I would’ve otherwise had to venture off campus to get,” said Kurzum. “I wish this existed when I was a freshman.”
Courtney Bergsieker, FCRH ’21, also favors the convenience that the POD brings to campus.
“I really like the new Queen’s Court because it’s nice to be able to get granola and stock up on other healthy snacks without having to go off campus,” said Bergsieker.
As an Aramark trademark convenience store, the renovation to a POD location required the aid of Aramark and Fordham Capital Projects (FCP), according to Yaun.
“Nearly all of the renovations I’ve handled the past five years have been with FCP. We have a good relationship with them,” said Yaun.
FCP is responsible for hiring staff to assist in major projects such as bringing Starbucks to campus as well as renovating Queen’s Court. Staff workers at the POD have remained the same since renovations occurred.
Yaun said future plans include maintaining a close relationship with the Student Government Food Committee on campus whom he has worked with before.
“Student involvement is always important which is why we’ll continue to meet with the committee to gain responses and meet suggestions being made.”